Points shared as Town fans wait over refunds

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN’S abandoned Championship clash with Blackpool on May 2 has been recorded as a goalless draw with both sides receiving a point.

The game on the final day of the season was called off in the 48th minute after Blackpool fans staged a protest in the centre circle, with the score at 0-0.

The Football League board has decided that result should stand and have charged the Seasiders with failing to fulfil a fixture. Town supporters were pushing for the league to award their side three points which would have ensured they finished above West Yorkshire rivals Leeds United at the end of a season for the first time since 1961-62.

Meanwhile, the league have pledged to review its regulations for future games which are abandoned in similar circumstances, while also considering ordering refunds for the 2,287 Town fans who travelled to Blackpool.

Huddersfield chief executive Nigel Clibbens said: “Our final game of the season was played, and ended, in extraordinary circumstances, which nobody at Huddersfield Town wants to see happen again.

“The representations we made to the Football League on the matter of this game were carefully and properly considered by the board.

“We strongly focused on the position of our supporters, who bought tickets for the match and travelled in good faith but didn’t see a full game through no fault of their own.

“We will now cooperate fully with the FDC (Football Disciplinary Commission) and, until that process is complete, it’s inappropriate to comment further on the matter of compensation.”

Meanwhile, Rotherham United manager Steve Evans hopes the club can appoint a new coach to add to their backroom team.

Evans is also aiming to persuade retiring physio Dennis Circuit to still work with the club on a part-time basis.

He said: “We’d like to add another coach. Paul Warne is really on top of the fitness side of it and the nutrition side. He’s a top man at his job and Andy Dibble, with the goalkeepers, has delivered.

“Paul Raynor and myself just need a little bit of assistance.”

On Circuit, he added: “Dennis is going, but I’m still hopeful he will be around for a couple of days a week – he’s an inspirational man who we’re all very fond of.”